The petting zoo returns this year to the West Virginia Interstate Fair that opens on Tuesday at the fairgrounds on Butcher Bend Road. (File photo)

MINERAL WELLS — The 52nd annual West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition opens Tuesday and runs through June 21 at the fairgrounds on Butcher Bend.

Opening the 2025 fair will be the Rafter M Rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, bronco riding, mutton busting and more.

The event features fair food, a petting zoo, games, contests, vendors and exhibits featuring something for everyone.

Tickets are $10 a day for ages 3 and over. Russ Collins, vice president of the fair board, called it an exceptional value. Included in the pay-one-price tickets are the rodeo, stage entertainment, track events and carnival rides.

“The fair board has worked very hard to keep the price affordable for families,” Collins said. “Several events in the Mid-Ohio Valley charge separately for the carnival and other major grounds events, but at the fair you can see it all for $10 per person.”

Jentre Swiger, 5, won a watermelon eating contest in her age category, 2-5, at a previous West Virginia Interstate Fair. ission is $10 for the fair that opens on Tuesday. (File photo)

After Tuesday, a horse show and cowboy church will be held at the horse arena Wednesday night along with karaoke. Clint Carsey and the Track Layers will perform on Thursday, Ridgeline on Friday night and 5 Spot on Saturday night.

Highlighting the motorsports track events are mud bogs Thursday and Friday and a full day of tractor and truck pulls on Saturday. Garden and antique tractors start in the morning and ruck and tractors at 1 p.m.

West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition schedule:

Tuesday, Senior Citizens Day sponsored by Wood County Waste, Harold’s Refuse.

¯10 a.m.: School project judging (kindergarten through middle school); Photographic Arts

Jimmy Price squeezes a lemon into a cup last year at the West Virginia Interstate Fair in Mineral Wells. (File photo)

¯ 4 p.m.: Ticket Gates Open; Jr. Royalty Pageant registration (open shelter); Tiny Tot Pageant (ages 3-5) girls & boys; Little Miss & Mister (ages 6-8) girls & boys; Jr. Miss (ages 9-12); Senior citizen’s activities-meals, bingo, karaoke; Livestock learning stations open (livestock area); Today’s highlight-Poultry Phil’s Future Farmers (livestock area) open 4-8 p.m.

¯5 p.m.: Junior Royalty Pageant. Other pageants immediately following

¯6 p.m.: Carnival opens

¯6:30 p.m.: Opening ceremonies, flag raising ceremony and guest dignitaries (track area)

¯7 p.m.: Rafter M Rodeo (track area)

From left, 2025 West Virginia Interstate Fair Queen Elizabeth McDonald and 2025 Interstate Fair Teen Queen Madison Jones. (File photo)

¯10 p.m.: Carnival closes

¯11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

Wednesday, Kid’s Day

¯4 p.m.: Ticket gates open; Livestock learning stations open (livestock area); Today’s highlight-rabbits Phil’s Future Farmers (livestock area) open 4-8 p.m.; Pretty Baby registration (13-36 months) (open shelter); Kid’s Day activities begin (ages 12 and under). Games, bounce house. Sponsored by Thomas Family Entertainment

¯5 p.m.: Carnival opens; Horse Show (livestock area-horse arena); Pretty Baby contest (13-36 months) (open shelter)

¯6 p.m.: Cowboy Church (horse arena)

7 p.m.: Horse show continues; Karaoke (main stage)

¯10 p.m.: Carnival closes

¯11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

Thursday, Armed Forces Day. Active military personnel itted free Thursday only with active duty or active reserve duty military ID.

¯4 p.m.: Ticket gates open; Pretty Baby registration (0-12 months); Mud Bog registration; Livestock Learning Station (livestock area); Today’s highlight-goats & sheep. Phil’s Future Farmers (livestock area) 4-8 p.m.

¯5 p.m.: Pretty Baby Contest (0-12 months); Carnival opens

¯6 p.m.: Diaper Derby registration (open shelter); Diaper Derby (ages 0-12 months); (Immediately following Pretty Baby contest)

¯7 p.m.: Clint Carsey and the Track Layers (main stage); Mud Bog (track area) Speed Pit-Consistency Class Showdown, Truck Class (stock to blown rails), UTV (stock to wild). Sponsored by Bosley Rental & Supply

¯10 p.m.: Carnival closes

¯11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close

Friday:

¯4 p.m.: Ticket gates open; Carnival opens; Livestock learning stations open (livestock area); Today’s highlight-hogs. Phil’s Future Farmers (livestock area) 4-8 p.m.

¯5 p.m.: Mud Bog registration; Hay bale throw, skillet toss registration (fair office); ATV drag racing registration (ATV track area); Carnival opens

¯5:30 p.m.: Hay bale throw, skillet toss

¯6 p.m.: Watermelon eating, bubble gum blowing registration (fair office)

¯6:30 p.m.: Watermelon eating contest

¯7 p.m.: Mud Bog (track area); ATV Drag Racing (ATV track area)

¯8 p.m.: Ridgeline (Main Stage)

¯10:30 p.m.: Carnival Closes

¯11 p.m.: Fairgrounds Close

Saturday:

¯8 a.m. Antique tractor pulls (pulling track); Garden tractor tug pull (ATV drag track)

¯Noon: Ticket gates open; Kids pedal tractor pull registration (fair office)

¯1 p.m.: Garden tractor speed pull (ATV drag track); Truck and tractor pulls (track area)

¯2 p.m.: Kids pedal tractor pull (fair office)

¯3 p.m.: Spitting contest registration; Carnival Opens

¯3:30 p.m.: Spitting contest sponsored by PAIS

¯4 p.m.: Stone throw registration (fair office); Livestock Learning stations (livestock area) open; Today’s highlight-beef. Phil’s Future Farmers (livestock area) 4-8 p.m.

¯4:30 p.m.: Stone throw

¯8 p.m.: 5 Spot (main stage)

¯10:30 p.m.: Carnival closes

¯11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close